Happy Friday all! I pretty much think I marked down all the places you all listed for your FAVORITE Cupcakes on my last post. I think I should make it a goal to try the “cupcakeries’ in every city I visit…you know, just so I can report on where the BEST Cupcakes are 
This morning I actually decided that Friday’s should include Dirty Lattes!
Venti Iced Nonfat Decaf Latte w/1 Pump Mocha = a Dirty Latte (4 points+) along with a nana.
My morning FLEW by as I was so busy with work since I was taking a half day for my Road Trip with TJ of TJ’s Test Kitchen.!
I was starving as I left the house so I grabbed a Lite String Cheese (1 points+) so I wouldn’t order 1 of everything on the menu.
Our Road Tip started with TJ’s favorite sushi place ~ Yokoso Sushi. I actually think it might be my FAVORITE place now too.
Japanese Miso Salad ~ Their dressing is SO GOOD I almost think I could lick the bowl the way I want to every time I have Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette…..it’s probably a good thing we were in public or I might have (3 points+)
Miso Soup that we both pick the seaweed out of LOL (2 points+)
I knew I wanted to order the EXACT SAME roll I had last time, but this time I asked if they could add Sriracha….Guess what?! They DID! A little on each piece.
I ate ALL of this roll and it was AMAZING! I estimated this based off a Spicy Tuna Roll at 1 points+ a piece. (9 points+)
I bet you all would really think I am funny if I told you I could eat my body weight in RAW FISH sushi like this, but, if you cook fish, I don’t really like it…I am weird, but, I am OK with that
After our bellies were full we knew it would be safe to head over to Harvest House ~ A Bulk Health Food store.
They had rows and rows on Bulk Bins with everything you could imagine and it was all pretty reasonably priced.
I LOVE Ak Mak Crackers, but, have you all ever seen their HUGE CRACKER BREAD?!
Let me just give you an example of how big it is in comparison to the usual crackers.
ONLY 3 Points+ for ONE sheet (the same as 5 Ak Mak Crackers)
I am sorta curious if I would like it softened or if I’d just make my pizza or Laughing Cow with Apricot Jam on one HUGE Crunchy Cracker!
I actually think they are bigger than her head ~ we split the pack.
Next up ~ TJ’s FAVORITE Almond Cookies
Not really that great of a points+ bargain (10 for 3 points+)
or 3 for 1 points+….I LOVE that they are all funky shapes and sizes. They are totally delicious and I could easily OD on them.
I think I NEED to work on creating a delicious Crunchy Almond Sugar Cookie after trying these.
Just Veggies ~ CAUTION ~ Contents may be HOT!
3 Points+ for 1/4 of the bag ~ that’s a lot of veggie goodness.
The ONLY thing we missed reading in the ingredient list ~ JALAPENOS! Holy HOT-NESS! I think it’s because the word “HOT” in the title blended with the theme of these cute characters
I also bought 3 types of Kavli Crackers to share because TJ had never had them. I LOVE these crackers over Wasa Crackers because they taste like a cracker over hard cardboard.
They all have REAL ingredients too!
3 of these are 1 points+
Then, the next 2 flavors ~ 2 crackers are 1 Points+
Here is everything I bought…..I bought a Butte Creek Cinnamon Roll Mix, Sweet Corn Crunchies and had fun at the Bulk Bins too!
* Coconut Chips ~ crispy unsweetened coconut chips!
* REAL Vanilla Chips
* Raw Macadamia Nuts
* Dried Pears
* Whole Wheat Orzo
* Chipotle Powder
After all that shopping we were parched.
Grande Iced Dirty Latte (3 points+)
TJ actually got adventurous ~ I am SO PROUD of her! She “almost” got a dirty latte, but, instead she made a DIRTY COFFEE ~ Iced Coffee with 1 Pump Mocha and a little half & half. (2 points+)
OH, and I also found something to take a picture of at her house ~ this little plant is adorable….I LOVE the holder!
When I got home The Husband and I planned out our Dating Anniversary trip and then headed out to CHIPOTLE!
13 points+ and worth every HEAPING point. I <3 Chipotle & their Guacamole!
You can calculate the nutritional information at Chipotle Fan for any combination at Chipotle – then calc the points+ – LOVE it!
* Lettuce (0)
* Chicken (5)
* Pico de Gallo (0)
* Corn Salsa (2)
* A little cheese (less than a serving) (2)
* GUACAMOLE! (4)
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* Shannon shares the easiest Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup ~ Only 4 Points+
* Win a CUSTOM CASE of Chobani in any flavors you like ~ Click HERE!
Q’s
Do you buy anything in the bulk bins? If so, what is your favorite thing to get?
I am famous for buying something (like Chickpea Flour) because I see a recipe for (oh, Chick Pea Fries!) that I want to make. Then, I forget I have it 
I LOVE buying anything in the bulk bins that I want to try a little of but not have the expense of buying the whole package until I like it. Believe it or not, that is how I first tried Flax and Chia seeds, now I just buy a ton of them!
We are getting ready to watch Inception ~ The Husband told me I NEEDED to concentrate to watch it so no blogging and watching.
LET THE WEEEEEEKEND BEING!
Great post packed with info, LOVE it!! I also like the Kavli crackers, Hearty Thick and Crispy Garlic! I haven’t looked in the builk bins at WF for a long time, but after your post, looks like I haveta revisit them! Gonna try planning a weekly menu this week-end 🙂
Looks like a fun trip! I actually just recently made my first trip to Whole Foods in Pittsburgh (along with Trader Joe’s), and they had some bulk bins. Most of the things in the bulk bins were priced cheaper than they were in packages. I bought a small amount of flax seeds to try, and I’m definitely going to be a whole bunch the next time I go. I used them in your pancakes and also in smoothies. I got the whole flax seeds, but I’m thinking I should have gotten the ground flaxseed. However, I don’t really mind noticing that the flax seed is there. The seeds are pretty small.
Hi Danica, what a fun road trip with TJ. I am SOOO going to keep my eyes peeled for those giant Ak Maks!!! Hope you have a great rest of the weekend!!!
Glad I could make ya proud with my DIRTY COFFEE! lol 🙂 I’m still bummed that those veggies are HOT….the little cartoon characters were so sweet and innocent looking! haha They should be called FIRE VEGGIES! aaahhhhh
Have Fun today on your date anniversary adventure! 🙂
i love to get stuff in bulk bins! it’s so much cheaper! especially since getting it that way is cheaper!
What a cool health food store! Seeing those Rocks and Rolls brought back memories – I used to buy them all the time for my youngest daughter when she had food allergies! I loved them, too!
Glad you girls are having so much fun together!!
I have long been a fan of bulk items—organic oats, barley, brown rice, flours, etc—but that is history. Recently both my friend (who also bought in bulk) and I had infestations of Indian Grain Moths, also known as pantry moths, and their larvae. We think there is a great likelihood that these came from the bulk foods. It was a giant job and great monetary loss to throw out everything in my pantry closet, not just foods, because of the larvae. Until I am sure there are no more moths (they are tiny, less than 1/2 inch, look up pics on google images), all pantry items not in cans will be kept in my fridge, and after the all-clear, only in glass jars on the pantry shelves. The critters can bore through plastic, cardboard, and get in spaces in tupperware type containers. Beware!
The bulk items are kept in warehouses/storage rooms for who knows how long, even though we purchased in a food co-op, where presumably turnover is high. Interesting fact: white flours, rice, etc were used by the early settlers because on long sea voyages, the whole grains attracted vermin.
Great finds! I learned a good trick is to write on the tag what the contents are of the bag. I learned this after many bags of questionable flour started to build up at home, and I’d totally forgotten what they were anymore.
I love to shop at Sprouts. There produce is usually fantastic, and I shop the sales so the cost is not too high. They have several rows of bulk items. We have bought the dried apples, a few gummy worms for my kids, nuts, trail mix, and my favorite bulk item treat…chocolate covered almonds…they are pretty big and for 3pp you get five of them. If I am really in the mood, I think those 3pp are worth every sweet, creamy, and crunchy bite! Little by little I get more adventurous and try something new. The best part is there is a complete nutritional label for each item! It always takes me alot of time to shop because I use my WW pp calculator faithfully, but today I hit 25 pounds and all the time and effort has been well worth it! I have about a kazillion pounds to go, but 25 pounds in 7 weeks is not too shabby! I love your website and e-mails…I actually put some shredded chicken in a dish with enchilada sauce this morning to make the enchilada/tamale cassarole…can hardly wait to dig in! Best hopes for a great weekend!
My husband and I saw the movie about a month ago. Didn’t understand it at all, was it real was it a dream and guess what we dosed through most of it too so we really don’t know what was real or not anyway. Hope you got more out of it then us.
Since reading your blog, I’ve become addicted to iced coffee!! Can’t wait to try some recipes, too – particularly the enchilada bake and all the different egg roll/won ton wrapper recipes!!
I wish I had discovered sooner that Starbucks iced coffee is already sweetened (3 p+ for a venti with nothing added – 31g of sugar). Have since switched to an iced americano, which is just espresso, water, and ice.
Thanks, again, for all the awesome ideas! (Also, I am SO jealous of Trader Joe’s – closest one to me is 8 hours away).
Yay for Ak Maks!!!
Hi Becky,
WTG on the 25 lbs gone and lost forever!!! That is a HUGE accomplishment especially in 7 weeks…..Keep up the great work ~ you are definitely an inspiration!
Danica
HI Theresa,
You can actually order your Starbuck’s Iced Coffee unsweetened and then have them add in only the number of pumps you want to make it sweeter. Or you can try what TJ did on Friday – order it unsweetened and add in a pump or two of mocha. One pump of syrup/mocha is usually around 1 PP each give/take. I LOVE Americano’s too though.
Danica
Ohh I did not know that was an option, too – thanks!!
And to answer the bulk bins question – I love all the grains – spelt, bulgurt, etc. – so much more filling that rice.
Have a great weekend!!